Monday’s announcement by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is unusual because few state cannabis programs have made such a commitment to studying medical cannabis.

But research is sorely needed in a space where a lack of scientific studies into the medical benefits of cannabis has slowed the growth of the industry.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The eight “certified academic clinical research centers” will research the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for treating several health conditions.

• The centers will partner with a cannabis company that will be granted one state license to cultivate and process MMJ. The company will also receive a dispensary license to sell medical cannabis at up to six storefronts.

• A legal challenge filed by some MMJ license holders is still pending, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A group of license holders filed an injunction to stop Pennsylvania’s research program, arguing that it will provide an unfair advantage to the partner company.